By Natalie Gil. In an interview for a university course, it's important to show that you're well-rounded. When you're applying for university, the last thing you need on top of exam stress and Ucas woes is a grilling by a top academic. But these days if you want to win a place, regardless of the course you're applying for, you're increasingly likely to face an interview. Many universities are interviewing over the winter break, so here are some tips. More...

By Kathryn D. Blanchard. Recently I participated in one of the many Saturday admissions events hosted by my small college each year. This particular event was a kind of “department fair,” involving a large lobby full of tables, well-dressed admissions officers, and not-so-well-dressed faculty members. All of us were there to greet the 60 or so high-school students, together with their families, who had come to visit the college and speak with faculty members in their projected majors. More...

By PhoePetitebe Maltz Bovy. Many institutions claim to evaluate applicants based on who they are as people rather than simply looking at test scores and grades—an approach that incites anxiety in students and parents alike. College applicants these days take the admissions process so personally. Not because today’s youth can’t face disappointment, but because the system for applying to selective colleges in the United States asks students to view the process as, well, personal. This begins when students decide where to apply. As an applicant, you’re urged to find the school that’s most in line with your “personality.” Then comes the college admissions essay. Even students not the least bit inclined to confessional writing are asked to spill to strangers (and to parents who may be reading the thing over). You’re invited to show your truest self by sharing a story you might normally reserve for close friends. More...